When there is a mismatch between the labor market and education acquired by graduates both in Africa and worldwide, the levels of unemployment spike. This is because most institutions either release many graduates at the same time or have the same skills as graduates released in previous years. This means that the job market has more laborers than the actual jobs available. This is the current situation that we are facing all over the world.
From my perspective, I feel that Africa has the potential to do better than most continents. What we Africans need is a clear plan and follow some of the strategies that have worked for most of the Asian countries such as Japan, China, and Singapore among others.
The population of youth in sub-Saharan Africa is increasing at a high rate and it is projected that there will be roughly nearly 561 million people between the age of 10-24 by the year 2050. Currently, youth in Sub-Saharan Africa are getting better education but the job market is still crowded which is making individuals find it hard to get a job that will sustain their needs. This makes it a bit more challenging to escape poverty.
Currently, there is a large population of unemployed people in the continent and this shows that this is lost potential; some parts of Africa indicate that communities and nations fail to benefit from the ideas young people could contribute. The issue of not securing a stable form of employment distracts individuals from making earnings and having ample time for lifetime productivity and this makes it harder to escape poverty.
Finding a job in Africa is a bit tricky because the number of jobs created is relatively low compared to the present generation that is trying to find jobs. This has caused some individuals to settle for less ideal jobs, which are sometimes unsafe and jobs that they are overqualified for. Other people even give up and stop looking for jobs and this group of people becomes harder to capture, they do not even get included in the unemployment figures.
What can be done in cases of unemployment is to think outside the box and work things out together. You can offer your suggestions on our platform at Frimit a conversation space that has been created by the youth for the youth to create solutions as they document people who are making it despite the hard economic times. The Youth by the Youth helps youth come together and contribute towards a certain course for individuals making it easier to raise capital for youths to start their businesses. You can reach the platform and share your ideas as well
WhatsApp +254769408334. We can solve this challenge together as youths, as we contribute to a greater course.
